Animal Leads

ABSTRACT

An animal lead ( 1 ) particularly adapted for use as a dog lead, comprising a cushioning element ( 2 ) in the form of a rubber bar ( 3 ) and a protective sleeve ( 5 ) which surrounds the cushioning element ( 2 ). The protective sleeve ( 5 ) is in the form of a flexible bite-resistant chewing band of braided stretchable plastics material.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to an animal lead. In particular this inventionrelates to a dog lead.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Animal leads for dogs which have elastic cushioning elements which atleast partially absorb jolts and impacts exerted by a dog on the animallead, reduce the risk of injury to both the dog and the person walkingthe dog. If, for example, the dog suddenly jumps up or abruptly comes toa halt, the lead is subjected to a sudden jolt which can result in olderor weaker persons being pulled over or result in injury to the person.Such a jolt can also result in injury to the dog, especially to thedog's throat area. Such jolts or impacts also increase the risk of thedog lead becoming damaged by for example, tearing, thereby shorteningthe serviceable life of the dog lead.

In order to overcome the abovementioned problems, it is known toincorporate a cushioning element in the dog lead to cushion such joltsor impacts. An animal lead of this type is disclosed in DT 24 02 614, inwhich the cushioning element is in the form of a pressure spring,specifically a rubber spring.

Other examples of animal leads of the aforementioned kind are known fromU.S. Pat. No. 5,706,764, U.S. Pat. No. 5,873,328, GB 2 114 864 A or WO95/31895. Where the cushioning elements are in the form of a rubber bar,for example, the cushioning elements are fully exposed. In as far as thecushioning element is in the form of a tension spring, for example, thecushioning element may be located in a metal sleeve which can causedamage to the cushioning element or cause injury to the animal.

Dogs, particularly younger or playful animals, often repeatedly biteinto the lead and as a consequence, into the cushioning element, whichis normally situated close to the animal's collar. If the cushioningelement is not protected, it is possible that the cushioning elementconcerned can become weakened or damaged over an extended period of use.

The invention is therefore based on providing an animal lead of theaforementioned kind which is easier to use, better protected, and whichhas a longer serviceable life.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In accordance with the invention, a cushioning element is surrounded bya protective sleeve in the form of a chewing band. Such a protectivesleeve has a dual purpose. On the one hand, it serves to protect thecushioning element from damaging environmental factors and on the other,it allows the dog to bite into the protective sleeve without damagingthe cushioning element. The animal is thus unable to injure itself andthe cushioning element does not become weakened or damaged over anextended period of use.

An advantageous further development of the invention is that the chewingband is of a flexible, bite resistant material, preferably a stretchableplastic braid. It is both sufficiently flexible and has sufficientstrength, especially toughness, so that the animal cannot bite throughit.

A preferred further development of the invention is that the cushioningelement is completely surrounded by the protective sleeve when it is notbeing subjected to a tensile force. This means that the cushioningelement is fully protected when not subjected to a tensile force. Itcannot accidentally get caught on protrusions or hooks and is also notsubjected to damaging weather conditions.

By an especially preferred design, the protective sleeve is connected tothe cushioning element at its ends in such a way that it can bedetached. This enables existing cushioning elements to be retrofittedwith the invented protective sleeve, resulting in an animal lead asinvented. This also enables one and the same protective sleeve to beattached to various cushioning elements. The animal lead in accordancewith the invention, can therefore be adapted to numerous uses andsituations. For example, if the animal is younger, the protective sleevecan be fitted to a cushioning element which is shorter or which has asmaller circumference. When the animal has become older and is stronger,the last-mentioned cushioning element can be replaced with a strongercushioning element. As such, the protective sleeve can be converted fromthe one cushioning element to the other cushioning element.

An additional further development is that the cushioning element is inthe form of an elastic rubber bar which is preferably in the form of arubber rope and which is connected to other components of the animallead in such a way that it can be detached. Such a rubber bar isrelatively light, is of a simple design, safe to use and can beinexpensively manufactured. As has already been referred to, thepossibility of detaching the cushioning element enables the inventedparts to be retrofitted to any kind of animal lead whatsoever.Conventional animal leads are thus capable of being converted to leadswhich are the subject matter of the invention.

The animal lead includes two attachment lugs which are each fixed to adifferent one of the ends of the rubber bar.

As an advantage, the animal lead has eye formations in the form ofshackles connected to the ends of the cushioning element via theattachment lugs, for the connection of connection elements, preferablyspring snap hooks. Such shackles enable the connection elements to beconnected to the cushioning element via the attachment lugs whilst atthe same time enabling the cushioning element to be changed withoutdifficulty.

An additional further development of the invention is that the animallead is in the form of a so-called retractable lead retainer configuredin such a way that the cushioning element and protective sleeve arewithin the retainer when the lead has been retracted. This means thatthe cushioning element and protective sleeve are well-protected if theyare not in use or if the cushioning element and protective sleeve arenot subjected to a tensile force, this having a beneficial effect on theserviceable life of these parts and on the serviceable life of theinvented animal lead.

An additional design is that the animal lead is in the form of a collarfor an animal. This has the advantage that the animal does not sufferfrom injuries to the throat region when suddenly subjected to jolts orimpacts, as the collar is of an elastic cushioning material. With thisanimal lead therefore, impact forces acting on the animal are cushioned.

A preferred further development of the invention is that the cushioning.element and protective sleeve form eye formations in the form of loopsat their ends for the attachment of connection elements. Examples of thelatter could be spring snap hooks or rings in which the spring snap hookcan be hooked in a detachable manner. This means that the collar caneasily be taken off the animal for example, or joined to other leads orbands. In the case of an animal lead in the form of a collar, theprotective sleeve as a chewing protection can not only protect thecushioning element, but especially the animal's body when the cushioningelement contracts after stretching which would possibly result in theanimal's fur becoming painfully pinched for example, were it not for theprotective sleeve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features of the invention are described hereinafter by way of anon-limiting example of the invention, with reference to and asillustrated in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic partially sectional side view of an animallead in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic partially sectional side view of the animallead of FIG. 1, in a stretched condition;

FIG. 3 shows a diagrammatic partially sectional side view of an animallead with a retractable lead retainer; and

FIG. 4 shows a diagrammatic top view of an animal lead in the form of ananimal collar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIG. 1 of the drawings, an animal lead, especially adog lead is designated generally by reference numeral 1. In FIG. 1, thesection markings which are used to indicate a section have not beenincluded for the sake of clarity.

The animal lead 1 includes an elastic cushioning element 2 which atleast partially absorbs jolts. The cushioning element 2 is in the formof an elongate and resiliently deformable rubber bar 3 having apredetermined length and diameter. The rubber bar 3 is in the form of anelastic rope. The rubber bar 3 has a generally cylindricalconfiguration. The animal lead 1 includes two attachment lugs 6 whichare each fixed to a different end of the rubber bar 3.

The animal lead 1 includes a protective sleeve 5 in the form of achewing band which surrounds the rubber bar 3. In accordance with apreferred embodiment of the invention, the protective sleeve 5 ismanufactured from an elastic, bite-resistant material, preferably astretchable plastic braid. As shown in FIG. 1, the rubber bar 3 iscompletely surrounded by the protective sleeve 5 when the rubber bar 3is in a relaxed unstressed condition. The term “chewing band” should beinterpreted sufficiently wide to include all types of band and alsoincludes a band which is in the form of braiding. Such a band cantherefore comprise numerous partial bands which are joined to eachother, and more particularly which are interlaced.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, one end 7 (this being the left end in FIGS. 1and 2) of the protective sleeve 5 is releasably connected to the leftattachment lug 6. The end 7 of the protective sleeve can for example, befixed to the attachment lug 6 by means of an interlocking thread (notshown). The other end 8 (this being the right end in FIGS. 1 and 2 ofthe protective sleeve 5) of the protective sleeve 5 is open and is notconnected to the right attachment lug 6.

In accordance with another embodiment (not shown), the protective sleeve5 is connected to the attachment lugs 6 at both ends 7, 8 of the rubberbar 3. Preferably, in this embodiment, the protective sleeve 5 isreleasably connected to the attachment lugs 6 at both ends.

As is diagrammatically indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cushioningelement 2 is preferably attached to additional parts of the lead. Forthis purpose, the animal lead includes eye formations in the form ofshackles 9, 10 which are each connected to a different one of theattachment lugs 6. The shackles 9, 10 permit the attachment ofconnection elements 11, in the form of spring snap hooks 12.

As indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the shackles 9, 10 is U-shapedand each is connected to one of the left and right attachment lugs 6 viaa screw or a pin 13 which is received in a hole provided therefore ineach attachment lug 6.

In use, one of the connection elements 11 is releasably attached to theanimal's collar (which is not shown) by; for example, hooking the snaphooks 12 onto the collar. The other end of the animal lead 1 is thenattached to a conventional lead (not shown), this also being preferablyby means of a connection element such as the spring snap hook 12. Inuse, the attached end 7 of the protective sleeve 5 is proximate theanimal's collar. It is however possible in a different arrangement thatthe other end 8 of the protective sleeve 5 is proximate the animal'scollar. The latter arrangement has the advantage that the protectivesleeve 5 does not fill with rainwater if the dog is taken for a walk inrain.

In the case of the dog suddenly lurching, for example, the rubber bar 3is subjected to a tensile force, indicated by arrow A in FIG. 2,resulting in the rubber bar 3 being stretched. This results in the rightend of the rubber bar 3 protruding from the protective sleeve 5, asindicated in FIG. 2. Furthermore, the diameter of the rubber bar 3 isreduced when the tensile force A is applied to it. It should beunderstood that this diameter reduction in FIG. 2 is merely for visualpurposes and is not necessarily presented to scale.

The protective sleeve 5 can, however, be of such a length that thecushioning element 2 is fully covered by the protective sleeve whensubjected to tensile force. Such an embodiment is shown by the dashedline in FIG. 2. The internal diameter of the protective sleeve ispreferably sufficiently large so that the shackles 9, 10 can be at leastbe partially located inside the protective sleeve 5.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, illustrated inFIG. 3, the invented animal lead includes a so-called retractable leadretainer 14. In this embodiment, the cushioning element 2 and protectivesleeve 5 are situated inside the retainer 14 when retracted.

Such a retractable lead retainer has a torsion spring 15,diagrammatically indicated in FIG. 3. When applying tensile force Ashown in FIG. 3, the torsion spring 15 is tensioned to such an extentthat, when pressing a push-button 16 in the direction of arrow B, itresults in a lock (not shown) being released and, the lead and rubberbar 3 being retracted into the retractable lead retainer 14 in theopposite direction to arrow A. The retractable lead retainer 14 has ahoop-shaped handle 17, which should preferably be held in such a waythat the push-button 16 can be activated with the thumb.

The retractable lead retainer 14 in FIG. 3, has a protrusion 18 in itslower part, defining an internal passage, so that the lower part of theretainer has an overall length 19 shown in FIG. 3, this preferablycorresponding to the length of the rubber bar 3 when not stressed. Asthe connection elements 11 are attached to the attachment lugs 6 via theshackles 9, 10 in a jointed manner, one of the shackles 9, 10 and aspring snap hook 12 can be retracted into the retainer 14, by beingdeflected upwards as indicated with dotted lines in FIG. 3.

It is therefore possible to replace the cushioning element 2, (in theform of a rubber bar 3 as shown in the preferred embodiment) bydisconnecting connection element 11 (in the form of a spring snap hook12) and adapt it to a particular situation or a particular animal. Forexample, a short, taut rubber bar can be used when taking a dog for awalk in the city or for example, a longer rubber bar or one with anincreased elasticity can be used when walking the dog in the forest oracross a field. The opening and internal diameter of the protrusion 18of the retractable lead retainer 14 should preferably be dimensioned sothat the protective sleeve 5 can be retracted into the retainer.

Another form of the invention is diagrammatically shown in a top view inFIG. 4. In FIG. 4, the animal lead 1 is in the form of a collar 21 forthe animal. The collar 21 includes the cushioning element 2, in the formof a rubber bar 3, and a protective sleeve 5 which is of a stretchableplastic braid material 22. The cushioning element 2 and moreparticularly, the rubber bar 3 being indicated in FIG. 4 by dottedlines. The cushioning element 2 has a longitudinal axis 23. Theprotective sleeve 5 is of plastic braid material 22 as shown at the leftend of the protective sleeve 5.

As is also shown in FIG. 4, cushioning element 2 and protective sleeve 5together form eye formations in the form of loops 90, 100 for attachingconnection elements 11, in the form of a spring snap hook 12 at the leftend of the collar 21 and a fastening ring 24 at the right end of thecollar 21. The spring snap hook 12 can be releasably hooked onto thefastening ring 24.

The loops 90,100 are formed by folding the rubber bar 3 and theprotective sleeve 5 over at their ends so as to form the loops. Theloops 90, 100 are secured at their base by means of a strong adhesivetape 25 or a cord wrapped around the protective sleeves at the base ofthe loops.

Cushioning elements 5 of various lengths and thickness can be used.Conventional animal leads can also be retrofitted with parts of the theinvented animal lead.

This invention holds the advantages of providing an animal lead which iseasier to use, is especially better protected and which therefore has alonger serviceable life, wherein the protective sleeve is especiallydesigned as a chewing band.

1.-13. (canceled)
 14. An animal lead comprising: a cushioning elementfor absorbing jolts; and a protective sleeve that surrounds thecushioning element.
 15. An animal lead as claimed in claim 14; whereinthe protective sleeve is in the form of a chewing band of flexible,bite-resistant material.
 16. An animal lead as claimed in claim 15;wherein the chewing band is made of braided stretchable plasticmaterial.
 17. An animal lead as claimed in claim 14; wherein thecushioning element is made of resiliently deformable material.
 18. Ananimal lead as claimed in claim 14; wherein the cushioning element iselastically stretchable from a relaxed condition to a stretchedcondition and is surrounded by the protective sleeve when in the relaxedcondition.
 19. An animal lead as claimed in claim 14; wherein theprotective sleeve is releasably connected at one end thereof to thecushioning element.
 20. An animal lead as claimed in claim 14; whereinthe cushioning element is in the form of a rubber bar.
 21. An animallead as claimed in claim 20; including attachment lugs fixed to ends ofthe rubber bar, and connection elements connected to respective ones ofthe attachment lugs.
 22. An animal lead as claimed in claim 21;including eye formations in the form of shackles, which each connect oneof the connection elements to a different one of the lugs.
 23. An animallead as claimed in claim 21; wherein the connection elements comprisesnap hooks.
 24. An animal lead as claimed in claim 14; wherein thecushioning element and the protective sleeve have eye formations in theform of loops at their ends.
 25. An animal lead as claimed in claim 14;further including a retractable lead retainer configured so that thecushioning element and the protective sleeve are received within theretainer when retracted.
 26. An animal lead as claimed in claim 14;wherein the animal lead is in the form of an animal collar.
 27. Ananimal lead comprising: an elongate cushioning element that iselastically stretchable in the lengthwise direction thereof to absorbjolts exerted thereon during use of the animal lead and that isattachable at one end to an animal and attachable at the other end to alonger lead; and a protective sleeve that completely encircles thecushioning element at least when the cushioning element is in anon-stretched condition.
 28. An animal lead according to claim 27;wherein the protective sleeve is made of bite-resistant chewingmaterial.
 29. An animal lead according to claim 28; wherein the chewingmaterial is braided.
 30. An animal lead according to claim 27; whereinthe cushioning element comprises a rubber bar.
 31. An animal leadaccording to claim 30; including attachment lugs connected,respectively, to opposite ends of the rubber bar, and a connectionelement connected to each attachment lug.
 32. An animal lead accordingto claim 27; further including a retractable lead retainer which retainstherein the cushioning element and the protective sleeve and from whichthe cushioning element and the protective sleeve can be withdrawn. 33.An animal lead according to claim 27; wherein 1; wherein the cushioningelement and the protective sleeve are configured in the shape of acollar to be worn around the neck of an animal.